title: Is lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity correlated with fibrous-cap thickness and plaque volume in patients with acute coronary syndrome?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a specific biomarker specific for vascular inflammation. Inflammation has a significant association with plaque progression. The fibrous-cap thickness (FCT) is one of the major determinants of plaque vulnerability in atherosclerotic plaques. However, data on the relationship between Lp-PLA2 activity and FCT in lipid plaque are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the in-vivo association between changes in Lp-PLA2 activity and FCT and plaque volume in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four consecutive patients with ACS were enrolled between May 2010 and May 2012. The plaque volume and FCT of nonculprit lipid-rich plaques were assessed by intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, respectively, at baseline and after 12 months. Lp-PLA2 activity was determined using the colorimetric assay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 12 months of observation, FCT increased significantly from baseline to follow-up, with a mean percent change of 74.4±46.8%. A significant correlation was observed between changes in Lp-PLA2 activity and changes in FCT (r=-0.56, P=0.006). Changes in plaque volume were also correlated significantly with changes in Lp-PLA2 activity during the study period (r=0.52, P=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant associations between serial changes in Lp-PLA2 activity and changes in FCT and plaque volume were observed in patients with ACS.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University bThe Key Laboratories of Myocardial Ischemia, Chinese Ministry of Education, Harbin, People's Republic of China cCardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Huai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jinwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ik-Kyung
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood*; D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003124:Colorimetry; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000097:blood*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; C526684:PLA2G7 protein, human